[Amelia Chaffinch]

    

The Hatters v The Terriers

Saturday 31st August 2019

15:00

Kenilworth Road

"Tale of Two Cities Towns"

If you're of a certain age, what's the first thing you think of when Luton is mentioned?

That was my first and this was my next...

Luton town were formed in 1885. Well, you've only to look at their badge! 

They have played at Kenilworth Road since 1905.

Plans have been afoot for a long time to move to a new site... in fact as early as 1955. However, planning permission was granted in January to build a new 17,500 seater (with potential to increase to 23,000) stadium at Power Court.

So if we're not in League One next year   , we may get to visit it!

Their most successful spell in the top flight was the 10 years from 1982 to 1992. They were relegated as the Premier league was formed. 

They have a couple of bits of silverware... the League Cup in 1988 and the League Trophy in 2009. They were runners-up in the FA Cup in 1959.

Their most famous manager was David Pleat who was with them from 1978 to 1986 and 1991 to 1995.

They are currently managed by Graeme Jones who was a striker in his playing career and this is his first managerial post. He took over in May from caretaker manager Mick Harford who didn't want the job permanently. He was covering after the departure of Nathan Jones (not of "Nathan Jones, you've been gone too long" fame) to Stoke.

The last two seasons have seen successive promotions. After the disappointment of losing in the League Two play-off semis to Blackpool in 2017, they got automatic promotion to League One in 2018 as runners-up and came up to the Championship as League One champions this year.

As we were demoted from the premiership and they've come up from L1, we should be favourites for this one but in view of our form, would you bet against them? Sure, they've had their struggles (but nothing compared to ours);

Boro at home was a 3-3 draw,

Cardiff away was a 2-1 defeat,

Baggies at home was a 2-1 defeat,

Wendies away was a 1-0 defeat,

Barnsley away was a 3-1 win.

A couple of good results in there. PLUS they managed to beat their League One opponents, Ipswich Town, 3-1 in the Carabooboo, unlike us. 

As a result of their reasonable start they are currently 18th in the Championship whilst we are looking up from 23rd.

We've not played them since we were both in League One in the 2007-2008 season. We won both ties that season and the last match saw Phil Jevons score in a 1-0 win away from home. Was anyone there?

Currently in their squad they have 3 of our ex-players; Martin Cranie, Jacob Butterfield and Izzy Brown (on loan from Chelski). I expect Butterfield will play on Saturday. I don't know about Cranie... he was missing at Saturday's match. Butterfield, on the other hand, started, played the full 90 and scored after 2 minutes on Saturday! Brown was on the bench for that match.

Also played for both, was Efe Sodje, albeit a brief spell at Luton in 1999-2000. Unfortunately, Efe was jailed in 2017 for defrauding charity. Tut. He should be out now.

The Barron Knights ... remember them?

I'll leave the final word to the great Luton Town fan himself who never fails to make me laugh...

Please feel free to post your favourite Eric Morecambe stuff. We could do with a laugh.

[Lord Snooty]

Luton Town awaaaaaay.

---

Well done, Chaffers.

[theo_luddite]

The Baron Knights did better AmChaff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8I4cG_Fxjo

[Amelia Chaffinch]

They did but couldn't find one that would fit the thread better!

[theo_luddite]

I'm sure Eric Morecambe did too ...... but you'll have to ask the lad with the short fat hairy legs. (Cough) Arsenal!!

[Amelia Chaffinch]

This could have been Zaha's anthem because he said something like he gets kicked black and blue every match and the poor soul gets no help from the officials you know. 

---

Luton are away to Cardiff in the league cup tonight. Izzy's starting and Butterfield's on the bench. Still no mention of Cranie so must be injured.

[theo_luddite]

Zaha wins more penalties in a season than we've been awarded in the last 20 years (give or take) by pretending to be kicked 10 times a match.

[Lord Snooty]

Grabara and Kongolo both injury concerns for tomorrow, according to the Unexamined.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

[theo_luddite]

How quaint, we appear to have picked 2 up front. Is that the first time since Wagbo turned up or does it go back beyond him?